Measuring, delivering, and registering tap for liquids.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

0. ROBINSON. MEASURING, DELIVERING, AND REGISTERING TAP FOR LIQUIDS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPTJQ. 1905.

ATTORNEYS No. 842,016. PA TENTED JAN. 22, 1907. G. ROBINSON. MEASURING, DELIVERING, AND REGISTERING TAP FOR LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.19. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET'Z.

INVENTUR g /KM WITNESS 5 s //7% 11 @3 ATTO R N EYS UNITED STATES CHARLES ROBINSON, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

DUNOON, SCOTLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed September 19,1905- Serial No. 279,132.

1'0 (ti/3 lull/07m it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ROBINSON, insurance agent, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Dunoon, Argyleshire, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measuring, Delivering, and Registering Taps for Liquids, (for which a patent has been applied for in Great Britain No. 20,309, dated the 21st of September, 1904,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises improvements in measuring, delivering, and registering taps for liquids such as spirits, malt liquors, oils, and the likeby which the liquids will be delivered in measured quantities, while by a simple electrically-operated device each delivery will be registered.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention relates may properly understand same, I have hereunto appended two sheets of illustrative drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are front elevations of the registering and the measuring and delivering appliances, and Figs. 3 and 4 are corresponding sectional side views of same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the measuring and delivering vessel. Fig. 6 is a front view of the registering appliance with the dial removed, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional front view of the electrical contact-making appliance.

In carrying into practice the improvements of this invention the measuring and delivering vessel 1, which may be of any size or capacity desired, is carried pendent from one end of a horizontal duct 2, which may have its other end screwed or otherwise fitted for inserting into the barrel or other store vessel containing the bulk of the liquid to be measured and delivered, or, as shown, it may be connected to a pipe or pipes 3, leading from one or more store vessels at any conven ient situation and fitted with taps 4. To in crease the stability of the vessel 1, the duct 2 may be fitted with the supporting-pillar 5. The connection with the store vessel may, however, be made in any suitable manner. A two-way cock or a cock 6 with an angled duct is fitted at the upper end of the measuring vessel and an ordinary cock 7 at the lower end, which are both fitted with levers, the two levers being connected by a link 8, so as to move simultaneously when actuated by a handle 9 on one of them, preferably the lower one. The passages of these two cocks are so arranged that when in normal inopera- I tive i position, as shown, the upper one, 6, is

closed to prevent liquid flowing into the measuring vessel while the lower one is open. IVhen the lower cock is opened by operating the lever-handle 9 to runoff the liquid, the upper cock closes before the lower one opens and at the'same time may open communication between the measuring vessel and an air-hole in the shell of the cock to allow the liquid to run out freely. In closing the lower cock the reverse action takes place.

Preferably, as shown, an air-valve is fitted to the measuring vessel, preferably of the self-closing fioat type, or instead thereof a small pipe may be fitted between the measuring vessel and the upper part of the store vessel, preferably having a self-closing valve fitted in it.

The air-valve shown consists of a float 10 within the chamber 11, guided by a spindle 12 within a small casing 13, which is perforaied to allow the air to escape. The float is fitted at its top with a rubber valve-face 14, which on the float rising comes against the valve-seat 15 and prevents the passage of air or fluid through the valve. An air-passage 16 is formed through the shell of the cock 6, and a short tube 32 is screwed into the lower end of same I'o regulate the height to which [I16 liquid will be allowed to rise within the vessel 1, as it will form an air seal as soon as the liquid closes its lower end. A small grating 17 or the like is preferably placed over the upper end of the air-passage 16 to break the force of any liquid forced through it.

In the case of using the measuring-tap for ale or other frothin liquid a pipe may be fitted to the valve-chamber to carry off the froth to any convenient receptacle to insure that the valve may be raised by the solid liquid only.

For registering purposes the lever of the lower cock 7 is extended and arranged to act on a spiingcontact to establish an electric circuit just before the upper cock is opened sufficiei 'ly to fill the vessel, or by another arrangement the lower cock is opened to deliver the liquid. The spring-contact as it may be constructed according to one n1odification is shown within the box 18 in Fig. 4 and in the front sectional view, Fig. 7. The extended end 19 of the lever actuated by the handle 9 comes into contact as it descends with a pivoted catch 20 on the suspended lever 21, which is acted on by the spring 22 and forces it back into contact with the electric contact plate 23 on the spring 24, the spring 24 being insulated from the casing and connected to the wire 31. The lever end 19 continuing to descend passes over the pivoted catch 20, so that the electric contact is only momentary. When the lever end is raised, it passes over the pivoted catch without making contact. The circuit formed by the contact, as described, sets in operation an electric magnet 25 and its armature, which operates through the lever 26 a catch or awl 27, secured to it. This pawl engages the teeth of an index-wheel 28, which may be one of a train geared together to turn one 00th at each delivery, a hand 29 being fitted to the spindle of this wheel to indicate each delivery on a dial 30, and the train of wheels may be arranged so as to register on two cir c'les up to five thousand or any other desired number. A movable hand may be fitted in front of the dial, such as is used in a barometer, to indicate how much liquid has been delivered after it had been set. The hands may be fitted in any manner suitable for turning them back to Zero.

To prevent tampering, the electric-circuitmaking device may be inclcsed.

Ducts from two or more store vessels may be led to one delivering-tap, and the horizontal duct 2 may, if necessary, be made oval in section or other shape to accommodate the number of ducts used. The registering ap pliance may be situated wherever suitable, and in an installation one or tore deliveringtaps may be connected to it, so that, for instance, all liquors sold at the same price may be registered on one appliance. The registering appliance may have different wheels acted on by difierent magnets on the same spindle, so that more than one delivery appliance may operate the spindle.

Having n ow described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

In a measuring and registeling tap for fluids, a measuring vessel with inlet and outlet cocks arranged so that when one is opened the other is closed, and lever means for operai ing both said cocks simultaneously in combination with an electric registering device, a single contact'to close the operating-circuit and means whereby said contact is made by the lever before the delivery of any liquid from the tap.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nanie to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

R. C. THOMSON, WM. RUTHERFORD. 

